As the easter bunny was getting ready to hop about with chocolate eggs, the Stan Army were off to Boldon Colliery as part of the Northern League’s own 125th anniversary (ground) hop. A home win for Jarrow Roofing was essential for their promotion bid while a win for Heaton Stannington would continue their mathematical chances of a top three finish. The match reporter was a bit nervous driving to the match as he had Stan royalty, in the shape of chief groundsman Mike Chell, in the car. Luckily the tunnel driven through was a Tyne and not a Paris one! The Stan had only three subs on the bench for the 11am kick off at the sunny Boldon C.A. sports ground and there was no Marty and his magic water.

The team though attacked from the start supported vocally by Dekka and Geoff. Jon Jon Wright hit over in six minutes but this was followed two minutes later by a break by Jarrow’s Young that Backhouse ran out and saved with his feet. Four minutes later Weekes kicked the ball off the line although it did go over in the thirteenth minute when the Stan failed to clear a run into the box and Appleby knocked the ball into the net for a Jarrow goal. The Stan kept trying although Jarrow also had chances with the best being one in twenty two minutes which hit the post. Good defending by Jarrow limited the shots for Jon Jon. Another two good saves by Backhouse were followed by a saved Jon Jon attempt. He was getting more frustrated as the half went on and probably did not get any easter eggs from his team mates as a result.

The lack of clear opportunities was more down to good defending though rather than the performance of the rest of the team. Compared to the match at St James’ Park later that afternoon, there were far fewer mistakes by players and more excitement for the fans. McKenna in particular was playing well going forward and there was good defending especially by Wear and Telford and hard tackling by Lee Johnson. Overall the first half was end to end which, if it had not been for the goal, the Stan would have just edged.

The second half saw Anthony Johnson start instead of Kevin Carr. Again there were attacks at either end though with the Stan having more of the ball and Jarrow only having two shots on goal all half. In the fifty third minute, it appeared that Jon Jon was brought down inside the box although only a free kick on the edge of the box was awarded. Although Jon Jon hit the wall, the Stan could sense that the game was theirs for the taking and the attacks continued. Wright was supported by McKenna, Anthony Johnson and Weekes in trying to break through. In the seventy second minute the ball went across the Jarrow goal only for Jon Jon to fail to connect. Unlike Jesus at the first easter, Jon Jon did not manage to be on the end of a cross. Hoggins replaced Blakey in the seventy third minute and the end of the half was spoiled by time wasting by Jarrow.

The Stan dominated the second half but did not have as many clear chances as in the first. The lack of Jarrow opportunities was partly due to stalwart defending by Joe Wear. The Stan pressure though had limited returns and the game finished 1-0 to Jarrow. A rather down hearted manager Derek Thompson, splendid in his easter bonnet, commented that the team were ‘unlucky’ and that he ‘could not have asked for more’ from them. ‘They were the better team’ he added and not many present could argue with that. The team can be proud of their performance at Boldon and of their fifth place finish in their first season back in the Northern League. Unlike later in the day at St James’ Park, the Stan fans can look forward to next season.

Stan Team:

Subs:

Attendance: 350

Kevin Mochrie